Dec 16, 20243 min read

Doctor Who Series 6, Episode X Review: A Christmas Carol

Updated: 4 days ago

What did you think of this episode?

Sonic!
Good!
Bumpy-wumpy!
Exterminate!

I think I could review A Christmas Carol with just one word - beautiful!

I will put my hands up here, the first time I watched it I wasn't so sure. I had been used to RTD going big, the world ending, the universe ending, a huge Cyberking stomping on Victorian London or every single human being turned into the Master. This special was a more sedate affair, and when I watched it way back in 2010 I was confused there were no explosions.

Now, with old age and some hindsight, I would rate this as a top tier Doctor Who Christmas special.

A Christmas Carol can make you laugh, make you cry, and take your breath away with how bloody pretty it is.

"Ah. Yes. Blimey. Sorry! Christmas Eve on a rooftop. Saw a chimney, my whole brain just went “What the hell!” Don’t worry, the fat fellah will be doing the rounds later. I’m just scoping out the general chimney-ness. Yes! Nice size. Good traction. Big tick."

This Christmas special is one of the most visually stunning and emotional episodes of the show, certainly of the specials, and I watched this with a smile on my face all the way through.

There is something about the flying fish that really caught my attention, I loved it. If you add that the the beautiful 19th century sets then you have something special. A Christmas Carol is a loving version of sorts of the Charles Dickens tale of the same name. Obviously we have a lot of timey-wimey shenanigans in the mix as well.

I feel like Matt Smith got better and better in the role, and this was a step up from series 5 for him. He is so good in this episode.

"Kazran, trust me. It’s this or go into your room and design a new kind of screwdriver. Don’t make my mistakes. Now! Go!"

Someone else who gets better and better is Murray Gold. Fuck I love the score in this. The music is stunning and of course he tops it all off with a flourish with Abigail's Song. Katherine Jenkins adds a little cherry on the top with her voice. A song about love, a song of joy, but with a hint or two of sorrow. Absolute fucking banger!!!!!!

Go on, let me treat you...

Michael Gambon is of course very good in the role of Kazran, and Laurence Belcher and Danny Horn also do a good job as his younger selves. Matt Smith bounces off the two and everything adds up to a Christmas cracker.

"We’ve had so many Christmas Eves, Kazran. I think it’s time for Christmas Day."

I might make a filthy FanFic one day about what the Roman and the Police Woman got up to in that honeymoon suite.

I haven't talked all that much about the story itself, but I can confirm it is bloody good. Seeing Kazran change, then change again, and again is a great watch, and it really felt like he might be on the bad side for good near the end.

Oh how good it would be if the Doctor could rock up at the White House and fuck with a certain orange pricks childhood, how would the world look today if this could happen? A lot of people would be having a better Christmas I predict. I don't know how I mention that dick so much, but I guess he is relevant, however much I hate it.

Who else would I add to my list of people the Doctor should change? Putin would be a good start I guess, Piers Morgan, I'd say Rees-Mogg but he's potentially an alien and immune from any normal feelings.

I am going to think long and hard about who else I think should get the treatment, or maybe I will just think about a Police Woman riding a Roman. Yes, I'll stick with that.

What did you think of this episode? Who would you like to see have their history changed by the Doctor? Let me know in the comments below.

RATING: Sonic!

BEST LINE: "Nobody important? Blimey, that’s amazing. D’you know, in 900 years of time and space I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important before."